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Shelf Life - My Neighbor Yamada

bravetailor wrote:

Actually I think women have been more openly positive about it from what I've seen.

I meant to say something like that, but I garbled up the wording. I wanted to guard against overstating an relationships between gender and opinion on it since I couldn't really back a strong claim up. Hence my rhetorical curiosity in a comparison of parallel male and female opinions on the series. It seems like a ridiculous choice of show to try to treat so seriously, but what's interesting doesn't really discriminate on dourness or complexity.

bravetailor wrote:

Funny thing is, I think I've read more male critics being bothered by the "100 sex partners" initial concept than female critics, who seem to not really care all that much about it other than it being a quirky premise. This reaction of course is what has produced some of the more fascinating discussions online.

I've seen a little of that. An obvious angle is that it's lingering discomfort with female sexuality, something that almost any investigation into the past reminds us has a long history (such as this history of the vibrator! ), but I'll admit on the other hand I was made apprehensive because I thought that it would be an contrivance for pandering to a male audience, which I really don't like, especially at more than maybe an hours length.

I've seen a little of that. An obvious angle is that it's lingering discomfort with female sexuality, something that almost any investigation into the past reminds us has a long history (such as this history of the vibrator! ), but I'll admit on the other hand I was made apprehensive because I thought that it would be an contrivance for pandering to a male audience, which I really don't like, especially at more than maybe an hours length.

Simple fact is the most males that watch this show are kouda, clueless when it comes to sex and afraid of girl with sex-drive thus getting it huge back lash from those type of fans. I am clueless my self but eh I am willing to admit it and this series did do something different for change which deserves it's praise.

I should buy And Yet the Town Moves, such misleading art, the maids really do get passed over quickly and then we simply get a very solid comedy improved with that SHAFT /Shinbo touch (amazing that you got through the entire review without mentioning these industry darlings). Highlights for me include that long segment with the vending machine that was slightly reminiscent of Lucky Star but with those weirdly dramatic animation tricks, and that episode half where Hotori goes off with her brother for midnight Ramen- she's a bit of an idiot but she's such a refreshingly awesome big sister.

Chiaki Omigawa has also become a favorite VA, she has a distinctive voice that fits the role perfectly.

Surrender Artist wrote:

I've seen a little of that. An obvious angle is that it's lingering discomfort with female sexuality, something that almost any investigation into the past reminds us has a long history (such as this history of the vibrator! ), but I'll admit on the other hand I was made apprehensive because I thought that it would be an contrivance for pandering to a male audience, which I really don't like, especially at more than maybe an hours length.

I actually would also be fascinated to see how a concept like that would be handled for pandering to a male audience, because male fanservice shows tend to be more about catching "tee-hee" panty and cleavage shots here and there--passive peekaboo eroticism rather than actually facing the idea of sex head-on. I had a feeling that this "100 sex partners" idea wouldn't be that salacious after all since it wasn't hentai, so I was expecting something more on the level of Three's Company or Judd Apatow kind of sex humour.

Hmm.. i would as well but here is something I am more fascinated with. A guy becomes friends with a 2-3 female characters however he is sexually gay. The girls know this because he is having a hard time in school and getting constantly picked on by his class-mates over time he becomes really good friends with certain girl "no it doesn't go there" however it turns out that she is in love with the same guy as the MC. Now this is something I would actually like to see done and there is countless ways of doing it but ... yeah

Hi Everyone. This is "Richard." Thank you everyone very much for liking the manga collection. It made my day to see that so many people have the same tastes that I do.

(Long time site reader but first time poster)

Surrender Artist wrote:

Between this and Rebecca Silverman's review, B Gata H Kei: Yamada's First Time is two for two in published reviews. When I noticed that it would be reviewed in Shelf Life, I expected it to make the rental shelf, so seeing it be made shelf worthy is a surprise. (Well, it was mostly savaged in the preview guide) I haven't watched my copy yet, but I'm feeling ever more sanguine about having bought it. I think that it would be interesting to compile a collection of comparative male and female reactions to the series, to contrast both opinions and the dominant themes of their reactions. I honestly thought that it would be just a crass, exploitative ecchi series, but although crass probably still applies, perhaps appropriately, I seen a few very openly approving reactions from women. I hate to overplay that, but the contradiction between my expectations and what the reactions have been was a big part of why I decided to buy it.

Actually I think women have been more openly positive about it from what I've seen. The male reaction has been more split down the middle. In a very subtle way, this show actually does feel like a female friendly sex comedy. But you'd have to watch it all the way to the end to get that feeling.

Funny thing is, I think I've read more male critics being bothered by the "100 sex partners" initial concept than female critics, who seem to not really care all that much about it other than it being a quirky premise. This reaction of course is what has produced some of the more fascinating discussions online.

Cecilthedarkknight_234 wrote:

Hmm.. i would as well but here is something I am more fascinated with. A guy becomes friends with a 2-3 female characters however he is sexually gay. The girls know this because he is having a hard time in school and getting constantly picked on by his class-mates over time he becomes really good friends with certain girl "no it doesn't go there" however it turns out that she is in love with the same guy as the MC. Now this is something I would actually like to see done and there is countless ways of doing it but ... yeah

There are some manga that have done this...I think. And Wandering Son is halfway there (crossdressing boy has only female friends, gets bullied and called a fag at school, etc) though I believe Nitori is actually straight despite being a crossdresser. Someone correct me if I'm wrong since I'm following the manga only.

I'm shocked that Erin put B Gata H Kei in Shelf Worthy. When I saw the list of the shows for this weeks Shelf Life I said to myself I know this is going on the perishable list.

The first time I watched the series I was not crazy about. When I watched it again when Funimation put the show out on BD, well I just fell in love with the series. The dub is one of my favorites and IMO one of Funimation's top dubs and one of their funniest.

... The final episode is a profound tear-jerker, complete with some slightly deeper social commentary on Japan.

... Some of the jokes could've used a slicker translation ...

Surrender Artist wrote:

I've seen a little of that. An obvious angle is that it's lingering discomfort with female sexuality, something that almost any investigation into the past reminds us has a long history (such as this history of the vibrator! ), but I'll admit on the other hand I was made apprehensive because I thought that it would be an contrivance for pandering to a male audience, which I really don't like, especially at more than maybe an hours length.

I actually would also be fascinated to see how a concept like that would be handled for pandering to a male audience, because male fanservice shows tend to be more about catching "tee-hee" panty and cleavage shots here and there--passive peekaboo eroticism rather than actually facing the idea of sex head-on. I had a feeling that this "100 sex partners" idea wouldn't be that salacious after all since it wasn't hentai, so I was expecting something more on the level of Three's Company or Judd Apatow kind of sex humour.

Fun fact that I'm not sure many people are aware of - the BGHK manga the anime was based on was authored by a woman, so it definitely tackles the issue from a woman's perspective.

I'm shocked that B gata H Kei was considered shelf worthy. I guess it is a unique approach to this type of series; but I just couldn't stand the main character.